I absolutely adored this book and this was exactly the kind of heartwarming and endearing read as I'd thought it to be! Leena Cotton is in her 20's, tired of her life in the corporate world, and Eileen Cotton is in her late 70's yearning for a tinge of adventure back in her life! It only seemed convenient to take a sabbatical and switch places, Leena to live in rural Yorkshire and Eileen to taste a bit of the London rush. Leena is thoroughly a chaotic mess after her recent blow up at her office during her big presentation which forced her to take on a sabbatical for a period of two months to get herself together. This book maintains a weirdly familiar Gilmore-Girls-small-town vibe to it which I cherished dearly AND has a Luke-like, but less grumpy, character, Jackson, a primary school teacher who's been extremely friendly and helpful to Leena whenever she needs it, just like how Luke is to Lorelie! Meanwhile, Eileen's been having the time of her life, finally dating someone who isn't her worthless husband!

More than finding peace and confiding in each other when life gets hard, this book is about healing; emphasizing how grief can turn people against themselves and each other when that is exactly what'll help them the most. The Cotton women have been grieving the loss of Carla, Leena's sister, and Eileen's granddaughter, and it had started taking a toll on their lives. It was indeed refreshing to see the two headstrong women grow out of their grief and confront their buried feelings. I initially had the impression that this would be more romance centered than on familial relationships but I'm glad it isn't, else this wouldn't hold a special place in my heart as it does now. The audiobook narration was beautifully done and listening to them, especially Eileen calmed my soul!

Thank you netgalley for allowing me access to this! While I’m not always a huge fan of audio books, when I read the synopsis and saw that Daisy Edgar Jones from Normal People was part of it, I knew I needed to listen to it! Let me tell you, this didn’t disappoint. Both narrators did a fabulous job. It was easy to listen to, and I love every minute of this! 5 stars!

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!
Great multigenerational story!

I absolutely loved this book! This was my first audiobook in a while and I really loved both narrators. They really captured the essence of both of the main characters and it made it even more enjoyable. The story takes place in England where Eileen and her granddaughter Leena swap lives for 2 months (major "Holiday" vibes, right?) after both realize they are in need of a change. I fell in love with both of them very quickly and they are both easily relatable. I found myself chuckling at Eileen, then crying with Leena, and then feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness for the two of them. The plot line was very character driven which I had no problem with and I could not put it down. There are also numerous secondary characters who have their own levels of depth which I also appreciated. I felt like I knew all the characters and I grew very fond of them. Overall, the book was witty and entertaining and a definite page turner.

This was my first experience with a novel by author Beth O'Leary. I enjoyed this romance novel with a dash of comedy which was fairy tale-ish. The narration was good and I will be looking for novel by this author in the future. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a fun, light read.

I loved this audiobook. The two narrators were perfect for this dual storyline. They brought so much to the story. It was very well done.
It was such a cute tale of a grandmother and granddaughter swapping houses/lives. I really enjoyed it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrators, Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-James were amazing. The Switch was a delightful journey into the lives of a woman and her grandmother as viewed from the other as they switch houses, towns, friends and lives for a time. Can you imagine taking on your grandmother's life and being responsible for things like getting all of her elderly friends to Bingo? Or going to meetings where you are admonished for sitting in the wrong seat?
What about going from that kind of community to one where none of the neighbors know each other or EVER interact? Or going from that small community to the confusion of London when you're in your 70's?
I loved the journey that this book took me on. O'Leary wrote characters that were memorable and entertaining.
I was given a copy of this audio book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Audiobook Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3.5 - 4 stars on Goodreads
Firstly, whoever had the idea to cast Alison Steadman as the voice of Eileen is a genius. She bought so much to the role and personality of Leena's grandmother.

This is a light contemporary novel but with some important messages for the reader, I suspect the book is drawn to a younger audience. The balance and the importance of the lives of younger people mixing with older people and vice versa. It also makes the reader aware that older people have an important part to play in the life of the community around them. It touches on loneliness, neighbours, and how to get involved and be part of a community.

Dealing with love, grief, domestic violence yet the book has a lighthearted and at times funny appeal. Listmakers and project plans, I mean, everyone loves a list.

A most enjoyable book to listen to, it kept me engaged throughout the whole story. In fact, I listened to the book quite quickly as a result and it kept me company whilst I was sewing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for a review copy of this audiobook.

4.1 - great characters, fun story - could definitely visualize some of the characters throughout; not quite as robust as the Flatshare, but still a great read

This book was a treat and the audio format really enhanced the reading experience.

This book is quite a cute read and quickly made it on my list of favorites I’ve read this year. I usually don’t enjoy dual POV books, but it works so well. Lena and Eileen are both really interesting characters navigating the same loss in different ways. The audio format really enhanced my enjoyment of this book since they each had different narrators with distinct voices - it made it easier to follow whose storyline you were on.

I haven’t read any romance books with older characters and in my opinion this was a breath of fresh air. I was cheering on the love story I wanted for Eileen as much as I was the one for Lena. Even the supporting characters have well developed personalities and are quite fun to read. While the plot is a bit predictable, it’s in a way that I think adds to the overall feeling of the book and works here.

Overall the book is a quaint romance and family story that had me invested from beginning to end. I’d read an entire other book of just these characters. I’d absolutely recommend this to closed door romance fans. One of my favorite books of the year!

TW for depression, panic attack on page, and loss of a sibling/ child to cancer.

This was the perfect read for this unsettled time! It's often hard to find a book that makes you feel happy while having enough of a storyline to keep you entertained, and this book fits that goal perfectly.

The story follows a grandmother and granddaughter duo, who are both at a crossroads in their lives. They spontaneously and innocently decide to switch places- the grandmother moving to central London to explore the dating scene. Simultaneously, the granddaughter goes back to her quiet hometown after being overworked turns into a bit of a breakdown.

I loved reading about the growth and discoveries they each made in their "new lives" as well as what they re-discovered about themselves that had been there all along. This is a unique, entertaining, and charming read, and I definitely recommend it!

As far as listening to the audiobook format, the narrators might not work for everyone. I found that one of the narrators was quite hard to hear. Something felt off with their mic, making them seem "far away," which definitely felt distracting for me as the listener. All in all, this book was great, but I would recommend trying out a sample of the audiobook if the narration is a big part of your ability to engage with an audiobook storyline.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts are my own.

Well that was just lovely! Adorable! Quaint! Charming! Take your pick of positive sounding British adjectives and you've got The Switch, which was just what I needed to. As crazy as 2020 has been, I needed a mental vacation and this hit the spot. If you liked The Flatshare, be sure to pick this up too.

#BookReview

The Switch
Author: Beth O'Leary
Genre: Chick lit

The duty of every chick lit novel is to create happiness in the mind and generate a smile on the face. This book does both successfully.

I'm not an avid reader of this genre so if a book leaves me smiling, you can bet that it has something different.

Eileen is a 79 year old grandmother who is tired of her routine life and craves excitement. She also wants a second chance at love and won't shy away from using dating apps to get a partner. But in the village, dating for the 70+ results in slim pickings.

Leena, her granddaughter, is still coping with PTSD after the untimely death of her sister. She is forced to go on a sabbatical by her workplace but isn't used to living life in the slow lane.

That's when the twain decide to switch places. Eileen will move to the city and Leena will move to the village. A perfect solution to both their problems. Or is it?

What I loved all the book was that unlike a typical chick lit, the romance comes secondary. The main focus of the book is on the beautiful relationship that Eileen and Leena share in spite of their generational differences. The story shows us the positive side of both the generations rather than sticking to the "old is gold" banalities.

I heard this in a audiobook narrated by British actors Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones, star of Hulu's Normal People. It was such a joy to hear them bring Eileen and Leena to life. While I would have still enjoyed this book had I read it, I feel their performance raised the book even higher.

Recommended for anyone looking for a light, enjoyable read.

I received an advance review copy of the audiobook for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Switch by Beth O Leary is my first venture towards the wonderful world of the Netgalley Shelf App and Audiobook ARCs. I was excited to grab this book because I’ve heard a lot of good things about her first book! Admittedly, though, I haven’t read that yet.

Unfortunately, though, for The Switch, I was not able to get the story I was expecting.

The book revolved around Leena, in her 20s, and her grandmother, Eileen. Both were experiencing some need for a break/something new so they switched their home setups. Eileen moved to the bustling city and Leena moved to the quiet village.

I have soft spot for grandmothers in books because I miss mine a lot. Its been a decade since we lost her, and reading books with grandmas make me remember our moments together…

However, my love for Eileen is overpowered with how Leena frustrated me. For someone in her 20s, her immaturity annoyed me a lot.

The writing style is very reminiscent to other British women’s fiction I’ve read. The story itself was very character-driven.. and that had harmed my appreciation of the book. I was bored for lots of its parts, but I do commend the little good moments scattered within.

All in all, I think this is a good book. It has the potential to be a favorite among many readers. It just so happened that we weren’t that good of a match. I’ll try checking out the Flat Share to see if that would’ve been a better choice.

Delightful! This book was just what I needed as an escape. I enjoyed the characters, and the dynamics between Grandmother, Mother and Daughter(s). I have a blog devoted to "Senior Lit" and I am always look for books that promote "Senior Women" as active, romantic, vibrant people who live interesting lives.
I felt like this book drove that point home!
"Eileen is newly single and about to turn eighty."
I thought the book also effectively dealt with serious issues such as grief, loss, loneliness, mental health and death that offered emotional tugs that were relatable and thought provoking.
This was the first book I read (listened to) by this Author. I certainly look forward to reading her other books.
Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron books for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!
jb
https://seniorbooklounge.blogspot.com/

This is my first audiobook and I loved it, the orators were great, easy to understand, great speaking and all the works, if I do more audiobooks I'm sure my vocabulary will be top notch and I absolutely love British English!

I heard a lot about Beth O'Leary from the bookstagram community through her book The Flatshare, haven't read it but hopefully soon. I saw The Switch on Netgalley and I decided to request for it and it certainly didn't disappoint me.

The switch is a fun, witty read, that also deals on some sad life issues.

Leena, self sufficient, boss lady has fumbled at a presentation. She needs a break after the death of her sister, she hasn't taken time to grieve and rest.

Her company decides to give her a paid leave which she grudgingly takes.

Now what does Leena do with her life? She has never been inactive and feels like a failure. She decides to visit her grandmum and her mum whom she has a strained relationship with.

Grandma Eileen, a recent divorcee wants to find a man and most of the men of her age are in London according to their dating app Leena registers her on😂.

They decide to switch places to help Grandma Eileen get a man and help Lina take a break as well as bond with her mum.

What happens during this period? What do these women learn about each other? What does life throw at them?

That's what you find out when you read this book. I really loved listening to The Switch. Grandma Eileen is a force of nature despite her age and Leena takes after her in her own way. These are alpha females who are still soft, emotional and mushy inside

I love how funny, sweet as well as realistic this book is. So many themes expressed like parenting, handling loss of loved ones, marriage and it's merits/demerits, understanding people around you and their pains, emotions, friendship, building relationships and so on.

Eileen and Leena go through a month living each others lives and learn lessons as well as find love and  fulfillment.

A beautiful story, very funny and sweet, a cool and fast read too!

What a fantastic audiobook experience! The voices were spot on and the difference between grandmother and granddaughter was so well done. There was a wholesomeness to this romance bit more importantly it was a story of self discovery and family healing. I loved it!

The Switch is that story. It's been done before. It is fairly predictable. You know you've seen it before. But it's charming.

Leena and Eileen are granddaughter and grandmother. They are very much alike even with the two generations separating them. Both need to get away from their lives. Leena is having a nervous breakdown at work, so her boss forces her to take a two month paid vacation. (Quick aside...is that a thing? Anywhere? Just paying you to not work for a couple of months?) Eileen is realizing that just because her horrible husband up and left her and she is over 70, she'd not actually dead yet. Unfortunately, her small town is short on eligible bachelors. So they switch.

Big town for small town hijinks ensue. The twist this time is the two fitting into each other's lives. And they seem to do so far more easily than you would expect. Charmingly so. There is really very little conflict all things considered. The romances are pretty easy to see coming. One is more spicy than the other, but in a charming way. Are you seeing a theme?

I am not usually one to pick up a romance. I have been reading a lot of heavy things. This was a nice little palette cleanser. Sorry. A charming little palette cleanser. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes that kind of thing. It even warmed my cold little heart.

I squeaked this one out just before the end of the month!

This book was an absolute DELIGHT. I listened to it on audio and it was one of my top 5 audiobook performances of the year (def recommend).

This is such a charming story about a grandmother and granddaughter who decide to swap places in life. When I first read the synopsis I totally thought the parent-trap or Big, but was more Sweet Home Alabama. I knew early on how it would end, which typically bugs me because I’m just waiting for it the whole time. In the case of @betholearyauthor ‘s The Switch, I just really enjoyed the story and let myself get wrapped up in the witty dialogue.

Thanks @netgalley for this gifted audio copy! It was such a sweet way to round out my month!

QOTD: What has been a fave audiobook performance of yours?

#theswitch #netgalley #betholeary #audiobook #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreviewer #netgalleyreads #bookreview #bookblog #bookreviewer #recommendedreading #currentread #romcombooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bookgrammer #bookish #bibliophile #bookphotography #bookstafam #bookcommunity #instabook #instabooks #instareaders #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #booknerd

"Family can be so complicated, but if you just pick your own way of doing it you can end up with something pretty perfect all the same."

Beginning my journey in the audiobook world- I am glad this was my first one ! Thanks to NetGalley for making it available on their app/website. Three words to describe this book would be: warm, funny, and adventurous.

A quick synopsis: Leena and Eileen Cotton needed a change from their daily routine. Set in the picturesque UK country side and London these two ladies switch lives with each other over the next two months. This breath of fresh-air might just open their eyes to new realities and adventures. Might I just add, Eileen is pretty tech-savy as she enters the world of online dating at the ripe age of seventy-nine !

The story was simple and sweet. Its a story about a family who's still trying to grieve the loss of a loved one and how avoiding the pain by just delving yourself in a routine won't make the loss any easier to handle. Additionally, it is also about a change of scenery and perspective. Putting yourself in another persons shoes for sometime and maybe even bringing a change to your own life while living in another persons shoes. From the story we also learn how the older generation is undermined and overlooked, but in reality we can learn a lot from them; making use of the talents they have. And how lonely old people are if they don't have a family/community around them. At the end of the day we all crave human connection no matter what age we become. There was not a time where I felt bored during the story!

Beth O'Leary might just become my go-to author- absolutely loved the way she told this story. The narrators- Daisy-Edgar Jones and Alison Steadman were a blast to listen to! They were fun and not monotonous at all, you could feel all the emotions through their voice modulation. And when needed the narrators changed their voices accordingly suiting different characters in the book.

I loved the relationship between Eileen and Leena- making me crave a relationship just like theirs with my own grandmothers. Each character in the story brought out the best in each other, There was a hint of women empowerment and how women should support each other. Another theme which is hinted in the story is how women or anyone should not bear any kind of abuse in a relationship no matter what society/family says. Through the characters we also see different parenting styles and how parents are still learning the ins-outs of parenting even though the child is already grown up.

This story taught me that not all relationships are perfect and how we should learn to forgive each other because we all are still learning while living through experiences at the same time. Inclusivity- is another take away from this book and how we should include the older generation in our society.

On the whole, this was a great read! And would love to see a movie or might I say a Netflix adaptation of it soon.

"And remind myself for the hundredth time how important it is to support other women in business. I really, fully believe that. It’s a code I live by, and it’s how I plan to make it to the top. "